Coping and support

It's normal to feel anxious or overwhelmed while waiting for a transplant or to have fears about rejection, returning to work or other issues after a transplant. Seeking the support of friends and family members can help you cope during this stressful time.

Your Mayo Clinic transplant team can also assist you with other useful resources and coping strategies throughout the transplant process, such as:

Joining a support group for transplant recipients. Talking with others who have shared your experience can ease fears and anxiety.

Sharing your experiences on social media. Mayo Clinic has a Facebook page called Transplantation at Mayo Clinic that's dedicated to helping transplant recipients and donors connect to each other online.

Finding rehabilitation services. If you're returning to work, your Mayo Clinic social worker may be able to connect you with rehabilitation services provided by your home state's Department of vocational rehabilitation.

Setting realistic goals and expectations. Recognize that life after transplant may not be exactly the same as life before transplant. Having realistic expectations about results and recovery time can help reduce stress.

Educating yourself. Learn as much as you can about your procedure and ask questions about things you don't understand. Knowledge is empowering.

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